Device for catching and collecting excess coating material applied to surfaces



Nov- 9, 1954 E. H. WEST, JR 2,693,735

DEVICE FOR CATCHING AND COLLECTING EXCESS COATING MATERIAL APPLIED TO SURFACES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 13 1953 Ear/e H. Wes Jr.

INVENTOR.

ATTOfi/Vf Nov. 9, 1954 WEST, JR 2,693,785

DEVICE FOR CATCHING AND COLLECTING EXCESS COATING MATERIAL APPLIED TO SURFACES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 13, 1953 INVHVTOR.

BY i

I ATfO/WVE) United States Patent Ofiice 2,693,785 Patented Nov. 9, 1954 DEVlCE FOR CATCI'HNG AND COLLECTING EX- SCOATING MATERIAL APPLIED TO SUR- Earle H. West, Jr., Bellaire, Tex. Application March 13, 1953, Serial No. 342,146 6 Claims. (Cl. 118-505) This invention relates to a device for catching and collecting excess coating material applied to surfaces, and more particularly to drip catching means for use in applying coating to sloping surfaces.

The invention finds particular utility in the application of liquid coating materials, such as paint, stain or the like, to surfaces and especially to the application of such materials to building structures which are covered with shingles or shakes. In the application of coating to such surfaces such difficulty is encountered because of the tendency of the coating to run down and drip from the edges of overlapping elements, such as siding or shingles, so that the rapid application of coating material to such surfaces results in substantial loss of material and impairment of the appearance of the surface.

Such dripping of the coating material presents a particularly difficult problem when the coating is applied to a surface which is vertically striated or otherwise ornamented or roughened, which makes it necessary to apply the material in large quantities and in a more fluid condition in order to properly cover the surface.

Attempts have been made to overcome the above ditficulty by applying the material in small amounts, which are thoroughly brushed in before any substantial running of the material can take place, or by spraying a thin coating on the surface, but such methods have been found to give unsatisfactory results, because of the relatively great expenditure of time and labor involved, and because the coating produced is likely to be uneven in appearance, subject to fading and rapid weathering, and does not provide adequate protection to the surface.

The present invention has for its chief object the overcoming of the above difiiculty by the provision of means for catching and collecting excess coating 'ma terial applied to surfaces, so that the material may he Eapidly applied in relatively large quantities to the surace.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drip catcher, which is easily applied to and removed from structures which are covered with overlapping elements. such as siding or shingles, and which is readily moved about for positioning beneath difiicult portions of the surface to be coated as the coating operation proceeds.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a drip catching device embodying means which cooperate with overlapping elements of a structure to be coated to hold the device in position to catch excess coating material which may drip from a portion of the surface being coated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a drip catching device which includes a receptacle for coating material, and means for catching excess of such material which may drip from the surface being coated, and returning such excess material to the receptacle.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a drip catching device which is of simple design and rugged construction, capable of long withstanding the extreme conditions of rough handling and exposure to which such equipment is likely to be subjected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a drip catching device whose parts are demountable and which may be used to collect excess coating material from a surface of relatively great extent.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a drip catching device of the kind referred to having a receptacle for coating material trough elements which are detachably secured to the receptacle in position to collect excess coating material and to return the same to the receptacle, and means for supporting the receptacle and trough elements with the trough elements in position to collect excess material from the surface being coated.

The above and other important objects and advantages of the invention will best be understood from the following detailed description, constituting a specification of the same when considered in conjunction with the annexed drawings wherein- Figure l is a perspective view of the invention illustrating the same in position on a structure which is to be coated;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 3 is a perspective view, similar to that of Figure 1, illustrating the somewhat different manner of use of the invention;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view, on a somewhat enlarged scale, taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail the invention includes a receptacle 10, preferably of generally rectangular configuration, and which may be formed of any suitable material, such as sheet metal. The receptacle is provided with an upwardly and somewhat rearwardly extending apron, or wall portion 12, which may conveniently be formed as an extension of the rear wall 14 of the receptacle. At its opposite ends the apron 12 is formed with forwardly extending Wings 16, which extend from the upper edge of the rear wall 14 to points spaced downwardly from the upper edge of the apron. The upper marginal portion of the apron 12 is folded forwardly and downwardly in spaced relation to the body of the apron, as indicated at 13, for a purpose hereinafter explained.

A handle 20, of any suitable construction, is provided for convenience in carrying the device and positioning the same in proper location for use.

'The apron 12 is supported by a brace 22, which in the present illustration is of L shape, and extends rearwardly from the rear wall of the receptacle, and upwardly to the back of the upper marginal portion of the apron. Suitable gripping means, such as the pointed element 24, is carried by the brace 22 in position to engage the structure upon which the drip catcher is to be supported.

The invention also includes trough elements 26, 26, which may be detachably secured to the apron 12, extending beyond the ends of the apron in position to catch excess coating material which may drip from the surface being coated, throughout an extended portion of the surface. Each of the trough elements 26 is preferably V-shaped in cross section, and of somewhat greater depth at its inner end than at its outer end, as best seen in Figure l. The trough elements are removably secured to the apron by inserting one arm of the V beneath the overturned marginal portion 18, so that the trough rests upon the forward surface of the apron and the upper end of the corresponding end wing 16. When in position on the receptacle the upper edges of the rear walls 28 of the elements are substantially aligned with the upper edge of the apron 12. When so attached to the apron the trough elements slope downwardly and inwardly toward the apron so that any coating material which drips into the trough will flow inwardly toward the apron and be returned to the receptacle.

As seen in Figures 3 and 4, the upper edge of the apron or Wall portion 12 may have spaced slots therethrough, as indicated at 30, for the attachment of spring clips 32, each of which may be formed with a straight inner leg 34 for insertion through one of the slots 30, and an outwardly bowed outer leg 36 overlying the forward surface of the downturned upper marginal portion of the apron. The upper ends of the clips 32 are preferably provided with sharp, upwardly directed, points 38 positioned to engage an upper surface covering elelustrated in Figure ment to aid in securing the device to the structure to whose surface the coating is being applied.

The invention may be used with or without the trough elements 26 applied thereto, and when used without the trough elements the device may be held in place, as il- 3 with the upper edge of the apron in engagement with the surface to be coated, or beneath an edge provided by the overlapping of covering elements on a structure to be coated. With the device in the position shown, the coating may then be rapidly applied to the surface, and the device may be moved along as the coating operation proceeds, to catch any excess coating material which may drip from the surface and return the same to the receptacle.

In making use of the invention as illustrated in Figure 1, with the trough elements 26 applied thereto, the upper edge of the apron may be inserted beneath the lower edge of a row of shingles, indicated at S, and the pointed element or pin shingle beneath said row, whereby the receptacle is firmly secured in place, and the coating operation may be conducted without the necessity of holding the device in engagement with the structure being coated. In this manner the user may have both hands free to enable him to more rapidly apply the coating to the surface, and because of the relatively great extent of the surface beneath which the trough elements extend, a large area may be coated at one operation without moving the receptacle to a new location.

When the invention is used as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the upper ends of the clips 32 may be positioned beneath the lower edge of an upper covering element with the points 38 penetrating such element and the pointed element 24 allowed to penetrate a lower covering element, whereby the receptacle will be supported in wall or other structure in convenient location for use in applying the coating material to the surface to be coated. The outwardly bowed legs 36 of the clips 32 also serve to engage beneath an overhanging portion of an upper covering element, such as the lower edge of one of the shakes S, to more securely hold the receptacle in position on the structure to be coated.

The trough elements 26, may of course, be removed, in order to make the device more compact for purposes of transportation or storage.

It will thus be seen that the invention, as described above, provides a drip catcher of simple design and great utility, which may be applied to a variety of structures whose surfaces are to be coated, and which greatly facilitates the coating operation and reduces to a minimum the loss of material due to the dripping of excess material during the coating operation.

The invention has been disclosed herein in connection with a specific embodiment of the same, but it will be understood that this is intended by way of illustration only, and that numerous changes can be made in the construction and arrangement of the various parts, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the amended claims.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A device of the character described comprising, elongated trough-shaped members arranged in upwardlyopening end-to-end relation and having edge portions 6 disposed in longitudinal alignment, means for supporting said members with said portions below a sloping surface to be coated in position to receive excess coating ma- 24 may be allowed to penetrate a the adjacent ends of said members in position to receive said material therefrom.

2. A device of the character described comprising, elongated trough-shaped members arranged in upwardlyopemng end-to-end relation with their adjacent ends spaced longitudinally, the bottoms of said members slopng downwardly toward said ends, means for supportng said members below a sloping surface to be coated 1n position to receive excess coating material from said surface and means extending between said members in position to receive said material from said ends.

3. A device of the character described comprising, elongated trough-shaped members arranged in upwardlyopenmg end-to-end relation with their adjacent ends spaced longitudinally, the bottoms of said members slopmg downwardly toward said ends, means for supporting said members below a sloping surface to be coated in position to receive excess coating materialfrom said surface, and receptacle means extending between and positioned beneath said ends.

4. A device of the character described comprising, a receptacle open at the top and having an upwardly and outwardly sloping wall portion terminating in a downturned straight marginal portion, upwardly opening trough-shaped members supported on said receptacle and having portions extending beneath said marginal portion, said members having edge portions disposed in substantial alignment with the upper edge of said wall portion and adapted to be positioned below a surface to be coated in position to receive excess coating material from said surface.

5. A device of the character described comprising, a receptacle open at the top and having an upwardly and outwardly sloping wall portion terminating in a straight terial from said surface and means extending between upper edge, elongated trough-shaped members carried by the receptacle in upwardly-opening end-to-end relation withtheir adjacent ends disposed in longitudinally spaced relation above the receptacle, said members having edge portions disposed in substantial alignment with said upper edge, and means for supporting said receptacle with said edge portions below a surface to be coated and said members in position to receive excess coating material from said surface.

6. A device of the character described comprising, a receptacle open at the top and having an upwardly and outwardly sloping wall portion, brace means secured to the receptacle and having a vertically extending portion secured at its upper end to the upper margin of said wall portlon, elongated trough members arranged in upwardlyopenmg end-to-end relation supported on said wall portion, the adjacent ends of said members being spaced longitudinally, said members having marginal portions disposed in substantial alignment with the upper margin of said wall portion, and means on said brace means en gageable with a supporting structure having a sloping surface to be coated' to support said receptacle'with said marginal portions belowsaid surface and said members in 1 posltion to receive excess coating material from said su ace.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Number Name Date 699,042 Vain Apr. 29, 1902 1,287,181 Barker Dec. '10, 1918 1,511,363 Pierson Oct. 14, 1924 2,511,346 Kennedy June 13,1950 

